Amistad (Spanish for "friendship") is a 1997 Steven Spielberg movie based on a slave mutiny that took place aboard a ship of the same name in 1839. This is a list of film-related events in 1997. ... Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg KBE (born on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio but raised in the suburbs of Haddonfield, New Jersey and Scottsdale, Arizona), is an American film director whose films range from science fiction to historical drama to horror. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ... La Amistad (Spanish: friendship) was a Spanish merchant ship on which a rebellion by the slaves it was carrying broke out in 1839 when the schooner was travelling along the coast of Cuba. ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Plot

The movie starts out with Joseph Cinqué, an African on the slave trader ship La Amistad, leading a revolt that frees the other Africans and kills most of the crew. They force the ship's captain to steer back to Africa, but the captain tricks them and heads back to shore where the Africans are captured and jailed. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ...

Immediately, word gets to U.S. President Martin Van Buren, the Queen of Spain, and a group of abolitionists. The group of Africans is charged with mutiny and murder. There are also property claims by the Queen of Spain, the captain of the ship, the people who captured the Africans, and others. A young lawyer, Baldwin, is brought on the case by the abolitionists. Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862), nicknamed Old Kinderhook, was the eighth President of the United States. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ...

Baldwin finds a translator and talks to Cinqué, who has become the leader of the group of Africans. In flashbacks, Cinqué tells about his life. He was captured in Africa and brought to the Caribbean Islands by an infamous Middle Passage slave vessel. Cinqué tells of the various horrors of the Middle Passage, such as when fifty people were drowned to save on rations. Cinqué was finally taken to the Caribbean Islands, where he was illegally sold to the owners of La Amistad. Look up Caribbean in Wiktionary, the free dictionary African diaspora British Afro-Caribbean community Caribbean English Caribbean medical education CONCACAF Council on Hemispheric Affairs History of the Caribbean Indo-Caribbean List of islands in the Caribbean Music of the Caribbean Politics of the Caribbean Tourism in Caribbean West Indies Federation... The Middle Passage was the leg of the Atlantic slave trade that transported people from Africa to North America, South America and the Caribbean. ...

In the district court, Baldwin brings as evidence a book he found on the ship. It conclusively proves that the Africans did indeed come from Africa. U.S. law at the time outlawed anyone who wasn't the child of a slave from being a slave, therefore outlawing the slave trade. This meant that they were being traded illegally, and were officially abducted citizens of West Africa. President Van Buren, under pressure from the South, then replaces the judge with a younger judge who Van Buren can influence. However, the new judge also rules in favor of the Africans.

The prosecution then appeals the case to the Supreme Court, where seven of the nine justices are slave owners. Baldwin finally convinces John Quincy Adams to help him on the case. After some communication with Cinqué, Baldwin and Adams are ready to present the case (Baldwin making the case to the Supreme Court isn't shown). John Quincy Adams then gives a speech on slavery and the case in general. The Supreme Court then (March 9, 1841) rules in favor of the Amistad Africans, in an opinion by Justice Joseph Story. Story was played in the movie by an actual retired Supreme Court justice, Harry Blackmun. The supreme court in some countries, provinces, and states, is the highest court in that jurisdiction and functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be appealed. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... American jurist Joseph Story Joseph Story (September 18, 1779 - September 10, 1845), American jurist, was born at Marblehead, Massachusetts. ... Harold Andrew Blackmun (November 12, 1908 - March 4, 1999) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1970 to 1994. ...

The end of the movie notes that Cinqué returned to Africa, the slave fortress he went through gets destroyed by the British navy, and the Civil War was fought over many issues, slavery among them. A civil war is a war in which the competing parties are segments of the same country or empire. ...

Tagline: Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken.

Quote

• I am resolved it is better to die than be a white man's slave. --Joseph Cinqué

Cast

• Djimon Hounsou — Joseph Cinqué
• Matthew McConaughey — Baldwin (lawyer)
• Anthony Hopkins — John Quincy Adams
• Morgan Freeman — Joadson
• Nigel Hawthorne — President Martin Van Buren
• Harry A. Blackmun — Associate Justice Joseph Story

Djimon Gaston Hounsou (born April 24, 1964) is an African actor, dancer and fashion model, born in the West African country of Benin. ... Matthew David McConaughey (born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. ... Anthony Hopkins A separate article is about composer Antony Hopkins. ... Order: 6th President Vice President: John Caldwell Calhoun Term of office: March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829 Preceded by: James Monroe Succeeded by: Andrew Jackson Date of birth: July 11, 1767 Place of birth: Braintree, Massachusetts Date of death: February 23, 1848 Place of death: Washington, D.C. First Lady... Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American actor and film director who first became known in the American media through roles on the kids show The Electric Company and on the soap opera Another World. ... Sir Nigel Hawthorne (April 5, 1929 - December 26, 2001) was a renowned British actor. ... Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862), nicknamed Old Kinderhook, was the eighth President of the United States. ... Harold Andrew Blackmun (November 12, 1908 - March 4, 1999) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1970 to 1994. ... American jurist Joseph Story Joseph Story (September 18, 1779 - September 10, 1845), American jurist, was born at Marblehead, Massachusetts. ...

External link

• Amistad at the Internet Movie Database